Torture: Is It Ever Justifiable

Introduction

This is a Critical Analysis of the essay the truth about torture, written by Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau in their book Current Issues and Enduring Question. The world is not as pleasant and peaceful as the naïve individuals living in deem it to be. There are several harsh realities which encompass this world and its inhabitants. Over the years, the world has become an excessively unpleasant place. Everyone in the world just wishes and cares to attain his or her objectives, at times, even at cost of others.

Discussion

The authors have discussed torture in their essay and the truth about it. Torture certainly is amongst the most inhumane acts that an individual executes (Barnet and Bedau, 828). The deliberate, systematic infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons in an attempt to force another person to yield information or to make a confession is the most inhumane existence of an individual. Most importantly, Washington took notice of it and carried out an amazement which desists any individual, especially military and security personnel from inflicting any physical or mental torture to a prisoner, in order to attain information. Certainly the practice of torture is barbarous and cruel; however, this practice possesses some significant implications, which if grade it as unacceptable, then at the same time the usage of torture seems to be essential.

The authors then highlights the three types of war prisoners, which evaluate their position or the severity of their offense that eventually determine the treatment they deserve. For instance, a soldier is captured on a combat field; he cannot be treated with torture as he does not possess any weapons anymore nor does he contain any vital information. He was unfortunate enough to be fighting on the other side of the field. This ...